Springing toward the monster, Koku with upraised axe and Norton
with the lance, they attacked the starfish. Hacking and stabbing,
they completed the work begun by Tom's electric gun. With one
powerful stroke, even hampered as he was by the heavy medium in
which he operated, Koku lopped off one of the legs. Norton thrust
his lance deep into the body of the monster, but this was hardly
needed, for the starfish was now dead, and gradually the
remaining arms relaxed their hold.
Pushing with their weapons, the giant and the sailor now freed
Ned from the bulk of the creature, which floated away. It was
almost immediately attacked by a school of fish that seemed to
have been waiting for just this chance. Ned Newton was freed, but
for a moment he staggered about on the floor of the sea, hardly
able to stand.
"Are you all right, Ned? Did he pierce your suit?" asked Tom,
anxiously through the telephone.
"Yes, I'm all right," came back the reassuring answer. "I'm a
bit cramped from the way he held me, but that's all. Guess he
found this suit of rubber and steel too much for his digestion.
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